Safe Hands Policy

Woodlands Cricket Club is committed to ensuring all children
participating in cricket have a safe and positive experience.

We will do this by:

Recognising all children participating in cricket (regardless of age, gender, race, religion, sexual orientation, ability or disability) have a right to have fun and be protected from harm in a safe environment.

Ensuring individuals working within cricket at, or for, our club provide a safe,positive and fun experience for children.

Adopting and implementing the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) “Safe Hands Safeguarding Children – Cricket's policy for
Safeguarding Children” and any future versions of this.

Appointing a Club Welfare Officer and ensuring they attend all current and future training modules required by the ECB, ensuring they have the necessary skills to undertake their role effectively.

Ensuring all people who work in cricket, at, or for our club (such as staff, officials, volunteers, team managers, coaches and so on) understand the Safe Hands Policy applies to them according to their level of contact with children in cricket.

Ensuring all individuals working within cricket at, or for, our club are recruited and appointed in accordance with ECB guidelines and relevant legislation.

Ensuring all individuals working within cricket at, or for, our club are provided with support, through education and training, so they are aware of, and can adhere to code of conduct guidelines defined by the ECB and the club.

Ensuring the name and contact details of the Club Welfare Officer are available as the first point of contact for parents, children, volunteers/staff within the club as a local source of procedural advice for the club, committee and members as the main point of contact within the Club for the ECB County Welfare Officer and the ECB Child Protection Team. And as the main point of contact within the club for relevant external agencies in connection with safeguarding children.

Ensuring correct and comprehensive reporting procedures exist for raising and managing child safeguarding Concerns. Such procedures should recognise the responsibility of the statutory agencies and be in accordance with pre defined child safeguarding procedures as set down by the ECB, Statutory Agencies and Local Safeguarding Children Board guidelines and policies.

Providing everyone connected with the club (including parents, children and volunteers) with the opportunity to voice any concerns they have (about possible suspected child abuse and/or about poor practice) to the Club Welfare Officer.

Ensuring all suspicions, concerns and allegations are taken seriously and dealt with seriously and dealt with swiftly and appropriately.

Ensuring access to confidential information relating to child safeguarding matters is restricted to the Club Welfare Officer and the appropriate external authorities, such as the Local Authority Designated Officer as specified within ECB child safeguarding  procedures.